ISA si Cong. Alfred Vargas sa pinangalanan ni President Rodrigo Duterte na nasa listahan ng Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) na sangkot diumano sa corruption.
Pero nagbabala ang pangulo na hindi naman ito nangangahulugan na guilty ang mga nasa listahan.
“The public should be aware that there is no hard evidence, that it cannot be translated by just reading the names that they are already guilty because presumption of innocence would like all throughout until conviction or acquittal,” say ni Pangulong Duterte.
“I just want to assure everybody that yung pagbasa sa pangalan ninyo is a condemnation or indictment that you are guilty of something. In the same manner that I would tell people, do not take it as gospel truth na totoo talaga ito,” dagdag pa niya.
Nag-react si Cong. Vargas and in one YouTube post of Models of Manila TV ay binasa nito ang pahayag mula sa kampo ng actor-politician.
“The president himself said that there is no solid evidence and mentioning of names is not an indictment.
“I am certain that I will be cleared. I am ready to submit myself to an investigation by the proper authority. Mere allegation is not proof.
“I have been a public servant for the last 12 years. My record is unblemished, my conscience is clear. I will not allow my political detractors who misinformed PACC to tarnish my name and reputation with wild accusation bereft of the truth.
“Mukha pong napadalhan ang PACC ng maling impormasyon ng mga nakalaban natin sa politika.”
That was the congressman’s office’s official statement.
Napansin namin, tila sunud-sunod ang intriga kay congressman Vargas, ha.
Una, may panawagang boycott sa kanyang entry sa Metro Manila Film Festival this year.
Pangalawa, hindi siya nominado sa MMFF this year kahit na lead role siya.
Oh, I remember tito Alfie Lorenzo’s famous line, “it comes in threes.”
* * *
May cake business na pala si Nikki Valdez, isa sa mainstays sa “Bagong Umaga.”
We discovered it through her Instagram account where she posted a wedding cake.
“Month of DECEMBER ~ This wedding cake was a done deal as early as April 2019 but because of the pandemic, my bride client Ms. Janz had to cancel her wedding originally scheduled last March 14, 2020.
“She then decided to push through this December. And as the saying goes, the show must go on applies to both of us. Nothing could stop her wedding. Not even my injury.”
That was Nikki’s caption sa kanyang photo.
In a short video sa kanyang IG, ipinakita ni Nikki kung paano siya tinulungan ng kanyang asawa sa paggawa ng cake.
“Month of DECEMBER ~ Meet Mister Buttercream!!!!!!!! Siya talaga bumuo ng tiered cake since my movements were limited by my injury. I was able to do the bottom tier only and 36 pieces of cupcakes but kudos to my husband @hoyluisito for doing so well in stacking the cake,” caption niya sa short video kung saan ipinakita kung paano siya tinulungan ng dyowa niya para matapos ang paggawa ng cake.